The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Hussein Hajji Wario
Date: 24.11.2010
Category: Evangelism Training, Unreached People Groups, World Faiths
I recently participated in a panel discussion at Wheaton College. The panelists—seven in total—were Christians of Muslim background who are natives of various countries with minority and majority Muslim populations. The moderator asked us various questions, among them, “How long was it between when you first heard about the gospel before you accepted Christ?” [Emphasis mine.] None of us answered this question directly because we could not pinpoint exactly how long it took us from the time we heard about Christ to embracing him as our Lord and Savior. I wasn’t surprised it was equally challenging for my fellow panelists. Here are a few things I observed about Christian outreach to Muslims:
First, none of the panelists came to salvation in Jesus Christ from reading the Qur’an. It didn’t surprise me but I should be surprised especially because the current trend in Christian outreach to Muslim advocates for “bridge” building, which includes using the Qur’an as an evangelism tool. The Camel Method and Jesus in the Quran (JIQ) are notable examples. They are gaining ground in the United States. JIQ has the backing of Christian mega churches and has weekend seminars around the country with the introduction, “Jesus in the Qur’an is, in some ways, an entirely new paradigm and, in other ways, an ancient one dating back to the days of Jesus.” [Emphasis mine.]
The sad thing is, the Jesus both these organizations promote is the Jesus of Islam—of Prophet Muhammad’s own making—who is an immediate nephew of Moses and Aaron in the Qur’an and the Hadith. This clue should be conspicuous enough to ground these projects but they are going strong.
Secondly, even though the panelists answered the question “How does your community view Christians and Jews?” negatively; some of them decided to follow Christ because of exemplary lives of Christians they had encountered. Typical mistrust of Christians widespread among Muslims, which both the Qur’an and the Hadith promote, did not hinder these ex-Muslims from wanting to know why their Christian neighbors and friends’ character was different. No wonder Allah commands a Muslim in the Qur’an not to take a Christian as a friend. They meet Jesus! How many Muslims would our living a Christlike life affect if we only let our light shine? Muslims have misconceptions about Jesus, Christians and the Bible. We should make every effort to reach out to them.
Thirdly, none of the panelists had a Christian sit down with him or her to show faults in Islam. There are Christians who have copies of the Qur’an and the Hadith to show Muslims what is wrong with Islam. There is plenty of wrong with Islam but a Muslim should hear the Gospel first. Unlike the Qur’an, which Muslims cannot defend without first trying to discredit the Bible, the message is self-sufficient. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” [1st Cor. 1:17. NIV, Emphasis Mine.] Our efforts to make the Gospel palatable to Muslims are undermining the Gospel. Why do we need to innovate in order to “gain” a few for the Lord?
There were more questions. The discussion was very encouraging to me. Hearing all testimonies of how my fellow panelists came to the Lord and what persecution they had faced and overcome was uplifting. I was very blessed to meet fellow believers with shared background and who still have family troubles because of their new identity in Christ.
Hussein Wario is a former Kenyan Sunni Muslim. He is the author of Cracks in the Crescent. He blogs regularly at http://www.cracksinthecrescent.com You can listen to his testimony here or read it here.
Keywords: The Camel Method, Jesus in the Quran, JIQ, Christian, Muslim
Views: 7766
Comments: 6
Recommendations: 3
Conversation Post Comment
United States
Thank you so much for this article!! It is so encouraging to hear that some of the panelists decided to follow Christ because of the way Christians around them lived. Every Christian should be living in such a way that glorifies God and if they were intentional in doing that-it would change the world!
I am curious to learn more about what are some challenges between Muslim conversions to Christianity. I realize that the Qur’an portrays Jesus differently and that potential persecution may deter some Muslims, but what are some obstacles that Christian missionaries must realize is there and how to work to overcome them?
15.04.2012
United States
Your posting open my eyes to what many of us including myslef seem to do: use what we think is superior in our religon to overtake people or deabte them into conversion. That is not what Jesus did nor Paul. Jesus answered questions whether or not it was to catch Him or to point out a wrong being done. Paul used what he saw that the people believed and then preached the Gospel. He did this with the Gnostic scholars and with those at the Athens temple praying to the "unknown god." Studying the various religions for this prupose sometimes makes people afraid that they may succumb to that belief system and fall away. But if one does study the various religions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit with the purpose to reach people, this will not happen. Also I agree that if Christians would live truly according to their faith, more people would response the the gift of salvation.
11.07.2011
United States
@ MzBoom:
I think the second point here is a fantastic one: ethical lifestyles are superior witnesses. Instead of going on the attack and pointing out what’s wrong with somebody else (which would put them on the defensive), what’s wrong with living how the New Testament teaches us to and explaining ourselves whenever we get the chance? That’s got to be a better witness than JIQ or systematically arguing against somebody’s faith, which doesn’t really help people in the end.
13.07.2011
United States
@ MzBoom:
I learn in one of my Urban Missiology books that you start out with what you have in common with someone and then build on that to
witness and bring someone to the Lord. We should not start out with a bunch of arguments. That is one reason why Jesus used parables.
16.07.2011
United States
Thank you Hussein,
You gave great ideas on how I may share with my Muslim freinds. I live close by to a university and work at a large teaching hospital. I pray that I may reach some Muslims here.
16.02.2011
United States
Thank you, Hussein, for this informative piece. This is helpful to me. We live in a world where we increasingly have opportunity to rub shoulders with Muslim friends. I, for one, have longed for friendship, but have felt worlds apart and did not know where to begin to connect. You have put a human side to Muslims. I am interested in more testimonies and helpful insights of this type - more detail of the journey to Christ.
29.11.2010
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